Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/Technician (HAC, HACR, HVAC, HVACR) at Florida Career College-Pembroke Pines

This HVAC program at Florida Career College-Pembroke Pines delivers below-average earnings outcomes that should give you pause. While the debt load is reasonable at $9,500, graduates earn just $28,989 in their first year—significantly below both the national median of $35,749 and the Florida state median of $31,997 for HVAC programs. At the 11th percentile nationally, this program ranks among the worst-performing HVAC programs in the country.

The Florida comparison is particularly telling. While this program sits at the 40th percentile within the state (middle of the pack), top Florida HVAC programs like Manatee Technical College produce graduates earning $45,926—nearly $17,000 more annually. Even after four years, this program's graduates reach only $34,093, still trailing what many other Florida programs deliver in year one.

The positive news is the debt-to-earnings ratio of 0.33 is manageable, and earnings do grow 18% over four years. However, HVAC is a field where skills and training quality matter enormously for earning potential. Given that Florida has 66 HVAC programs to choose from—including several that significantly outperform this one—your child would likely be better served exploring higher-ranked alternatives, particularly the state technical colleges that dominate the top performers list.